History of Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein is a globally recognised fashion brand founded in 1968 by American designer Calvin Klein and his childhood friend Barry Schwartz. The company started with a small coat business in New York City, and Klein quickly gained attention for clean, minimalist designs that stood out against the bold fashion trends of the time. A large early order from the department store Bonwit Teller helped establish the brand.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Calvin Klein expanded well beyond outerwear into designer jeans, underwear, and fragrances. The brand became known for its provocative advertising, including a controversial 1980 jeans campaign featuring Brooke Shields and later underwear campaigns photographed by leading fashion photographers. Fragrances such as Obsession, Eternity, and the unisex CK One, launched in 1994, became some of the best-selling scents of their eras.
In 2003, Calvin Klein Inc. was acquired by Phillips-Van Heusen, now known as PVH Corp., which also owns Tommy Hilfiger. Calvin Klein himself stepped away from the design side of the business soon after. The brand has since been led by a series of creative directors, including Raf Simons, who oversaw its main collections from 2016 to 2018.
Today, Calvin Klein operates across apparel, underwear, jeans, fragrances, and accessories, with much of its business built on licensing and wholesale partnerships. It remains one of the most recognisable names in fashion, closely associated with minimalist design and celebrity-led advertising campaigns.